Is Seafood by the Ocean Really Fresher? (Los Angeles, Pasadena: houses, buy)

[genjy]

I am strictly speaking about the LA/OC region.

When I read user review sites like Yelp, Urbanspoon, and so on, I often come across reviews stating how sushi/fish/crustacean tastes fresher because the restaurant is near the ocean (or in some cases, right next to the beach).

Would my hamachi sashimi or Chilean sea bass really taste fresher if I ate it in Culver City as opposed to in Pasadena?

Now, I am not an expert on our local fish distribution centers and seaports... but I know my spicy tuna roll wasn't caught off the coast of Santa Monica... and that many sea creatures can be transported live to anywhere inland.

Is "fresher seafood near the ocean" all psychological? If not, then how/when does it really come into play?

[EscapeCalifornia]

Top quality food goes where people are willing to pay top dollar for it, be it Santa Monica or Chicago.

[Deezus]

I think some people eat seafood on the coast--like right on the beach or on a harbor and imagine they're getting something right off the boat. It is sort of psychological--and when I go to the beach or some old harbor town I often feel like ordering seafood(it sort of just feels natural). But the truth is often the seafood is being shipped in or caught a long ways away to begin with. You go to places famous for seafood--like Puerto Nuevo south of Tijuana on the Baja coast, and the lobsters the town is famous for aren't even from that part of Baja for the most part.

Personally I don't know Los Angeles well enough though to know if there's places close to water where you're actually getting fresh caught seafood--most of the seafood I've eaten in Los Angeles has been at Mexican places--and I have no idea where it's coming from...

[Spikett]

This made me wonder just what species are commercially fished off the California coast. Found this at UC Davis - there is more variety than I imagined.


Fish Species

[Ingenere]

It is geographically easier for a small restaurant to get fresh seafood located on the coast. However, not all coastal seafood restaurants have fresh seafood.

[JohnG72]

Not necessarily. There are seafood places right on the water that get locally caught fresh fish frequently, but it depends on the species and so forth.

Most of the fresh fish in LA restaurants comes up the trains from the harbor to downtown. There are several fish processing places in the downtown industrial warehouse area over by Central and Alameda. Most restaurants that serve fresh fish buy it from them.

Actually the best seafood in LA comes from a place that one of the warehouses operates:

FISHERMAN'S OUTLET RESTAURANT

[genjy]

Originally Posted by JohnG72

Actually the best seafood in LA comes from a place that one of the warehouses operates:

FISHERMAN'S OUTLET RESTAURANT

Interesting... I used to drive past that place almost daily.

Maybe I will try it for lunch next time I am in the area again.

[bhcompy]

It can be. Berth 55 takes it right off the boat and drops it in the deep fryer/pan. Good little place.

[JohnG72]

Originally Posted by genjy

Interesting... I used to drive past that place almost daily.

Maybe I will try it for lunch next time I am in the area again.

NOT between 1130 and 130 in the afternoon..crowded as heck. And NOT catch 21 across the street either.

Yelp reviews of Fishermans Outlet:

Fisherman's Outlet - Downtown - Los Angeles, CA

[ferretkona]

Originally Posted by genjy

Now, I am not an expert on our local fish distribution centers and seaports... but I know my spicy tuna roll wasn't caught off the coast of Santa Monica... and that many sea creatures can be transported live to anywhere inland.

Is "fresher seafood near the ocean" all psychological? If not, then how/when does it really come into play?

Can be,yes. Do you think anyone really does transport live?
I have eaten "fresh fish" in the foothills and paid for it for days.